Eagles facing emotional game against Crows

West Coast coach Adam Simpson says he is preparing for a tough week, with the Eagles the first team to meet Adelaide since the death of Phil Walsh.

West Coast triumphed over Melbourne in a lacklustre game in Darwin on Saturday, only a day after hearing that Walsh, who had been an assistant coach with the team for five years until last year, was dead, allegedly from an apparent stabbing attack by his 26-year-old son Cy.

Simpson said his team had a close relationship with Walsh.

"It's emotional," he told reporters.

"They were all very flat, the blokes, after the game; I think they got the job done, but it was a distinct, different feel."

Both West Coast and Melbourne wore black armbands on Saturday, and no banners were flying or victory songs playing.

At the end of the match the players took their lead from Hawthorn and Collingwood from Friday night and stood for a moment's silence linked arm-in-arm with the Demons.